Dear Westwood Family,

It’s been so hot that I’ve had a hard time remembering that it’s fall, but now that it’s October, and since Pablo, Sabrina and I were just talking through logistics for this Sunday’s Fall Festival, I’m getting hungry for some chili. (Mercifully, the heat is supposed to break before Sunday, which I hope will make it easier for us all to get into the spirit of the day…)

I want to be sure you have it on your calendar, too, and that you have a chance to make plans to join us. We’ve got a new trophy (of sorts) for the chili and bake-off champions, so it’s an especially fun year to jump into the contest, too. You can still sign up to bring chili or a dessert–or to help during the event.

Besides the fun of a contest, and the nourishment of good food, I have to say that I’m especially looking forward to the event as a chance to build and deepen our connections as a community.

Last Saturday, a whole bunch of church leaders–representative of the many ministries of our congregation–spend much of the day together, talking about who we are and who we want to become as we take next steps into our mission statement: Westwood United Methodist Church is an intergenerational Christian community committed to radical inclusivity, justice, compassion, and growing Jesus’ beloved community.

I was encouraged and heartened by so much of the conversation: remembering who we have been over the nearly 100 years of our church history, hearing stories about who we are now, and making plans for what’s next in the varied ministries of our church. It was easy to see ways that our mission statement (written by our Church Council last year) is faithful to who we’ve been all along. There are lots of things I could say about each of the words and phrases; one that has been heartening to me over this past week as I’ve reflected on the day is that we are an intergenerational Christian community.

It’s easy to get divided up by generations–God knows I love a good GenX-specific social media meme. There’s nothing quite like being with people who “get it,” because they’re going through the same thing.

But there’s so much treasure in relationships that span the seasons of life, and fewer places where we get to build them. I cannot say enough about how inspired I am by the cross-generational friendships that exist in our congregation. Some of them came through our programs: older adults and Queer young adults connected by Found Family, Grapplers and the adults who were their Confirmation mentors, adults who volunteer with Westwood Kids, for example. Others were formed more organically, by folks who find each other as we share life in the church together. Intergenerational life deepens our sense of purpose, gives us hope that lifts us above just this present moment, and offers encouragement and belonging in such a powerful way.

So, I want to honor and name this common value that I’ve felt bubbling up in our community life. Sometimes, it feels a little intimidating to instigate a new relationship with someone who’s older or younger. Like with relationships across other diversities, there are inevitably awkward moments, gaffes, and unintended miscommunications because we don’t quite know the smooth thing to say. But it’s so worth it!

Today’s Pastoral Note, then, is my pep talk to the community: to take this moment in our church life as an occasion to start a conversation with someone you don’t know, who is older or younger than you. There are easy conversation starters, because you can talk about the chili and the desserts, and everyone’s got things they can say about food and flavors they love (or don’t). Maybe ask someone to share a memory about a food from their childhood, and make space to hear what they have to share.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

grace and peace,
Pastor Molly